PRESS RELEASE

 

The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Freetown, presided over by the HONOURABLE JUSTICE SIMEON ALLIEU, has on Wednesday 11th August, 2021, convicted and sentenced HAWA Y. KAMARA, Revenue Reconciliation Officer, EDSA and of No. 166 Bai Bureh Road, Portee, Freetown,  MARY BANGURA (MRS NGEGBA), Revenue Assistant, EDSA and of No. 26 Blackhall Road, Freetown, and RUGIATU KALOKOH, Revenue Assistant, EDSA and of No. 36J Red Pump, Tengbeh Town, to pay a fine of FIFTY MILLION LEONES (Le. 50,000,000.00) each and immediately, or SERVE FIVE (5) YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

The Court also ordered HAWA Y. KAMARA, MARY BANGURA & RUGIATU KALOKOH to pay a restitution of THIRTEEN MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND LEONES (13,330,000.00) each, being funds each of them misappropriated, on or before the 11th October, 2021. 

The HONOURABLE JUSTICE SIMEON ALLIEU convicted HAWA Y. KAMARA, MARY BANGURA & RUGIATU KALOKOH- Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth accused persons respectively- after they pleaded guilty to Count 1 of Misappropriation of Public Revenue, contrary to Section 36(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12, of 2008 as amended in 2019.   .  

It could be recalled that, the ACC, on 16th July, 2021, had indicted HAWA Y. KAMARA, MARY BANGURA, RUGIATU KALOKOH and Five others, including MOHAMED SHEKU TURAY, ALIMAMY SESAY, NOAH WINNEBAH, ABIOSEH OLA BARNES, MUSA MOMOH LAHAI, for misappropriating the sum of THREE BILLION, NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILLION, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO LEONES (LE 3,920,145,262.00) being Electricity Bill paid to EDSA for the supply of electricity. The principal accused person MOHAMED SHEKU TURAY was convicted on 22nd July 2021 and fined ONE HUNDRED MILLION LEONES (Le 100,000,000) or serve TEN YEARS imprisonment. The Court also ordered him to pay a restitution of THREE BILLION, NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILLION, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO LEONES (LE 3,920,145,262.00) being funds he misappropriated.

Meanwhile, ALIMAMY SESAY, NOAH WINNIEBAH, ABIOSEH OLA BARNES and MUSA MOMOH LAHAI, are still standing trial on the same indictment. 

In this regard, the Commission wishes to reassure the general public of its relentless commitment to protecting public funds and resources at all times. 

For further enquiries on this and other ACC matters, please contact MAGARET MURRAY, the Public Relations Officer on +23278832131 or via email info@anticorruption.gov.sl.

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ABUBAKARR TURAY

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH